Table sessions, split checks and seat numbers

These three go together, and all three start switched off even on plans that include them. Turn them on under Setup → Features; see Turn features on and off.

They are off by default because a café that sells coffee at a counter does not want any of them, and a table-service restaurant usually wants all three. Shipping them off means nobody is surprised by them.

Table sessions

A table session is the table’s whole visit, which may contain more than one order. Open a session when the guests sit down; everything that happens at that table belongs to it until it closes.

What it gives you:

• Transfer a session to a different table — the party that moves outside when the rain stops takes its bill with it.
• One place that knows the table is in use, independent of any single order.
• Closing the session closes the visit.

Needs manage orders and the table sessions feature.

Split checks

With a session open, split checks lets that one visit produce more than one bill. You can add a check to the session, and you can split an existing one.

This is the “can we pay separately?” feature. Without it, a table of six settling in three pairs means three part payments against one order and a conversation at the counter about who paid for what. With it, each check is its own bill, each with its own total, and each can be paid by a different card.

Needs manage orders and the split checks feature. Split checks are only useful with table sessions on, since a check belongs to a session.

Seat numbers

Seat tracking tags each item with the seat it belongs to. Seat 1 had the fish, seat 3 had the steak.

Two things this buys you:

• The food goes to the right person without the waiter asking the table “who had the fish?”.
• Splitting a check by seat becomes mechanical instead of a reconstruction from memory.

Needs manage orders and the seat tracking feature.

Which to turn on

You run	Sensible choice
Counter café, food truck, quick service	None of the three
Casual table service, one bill per table	Table sessions
Bar or bistro where groups pay separately	Table sessions + split checks
Full table service, several courses, large parties	All three

Turning one off later does not delete anything already recorded against it.